Lasso



(No Model.)

B. SHAW.

LASSO.

No. 474,103. Patented May 3, 1892.

Wiinesses fm/enior' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIGE.

EDGAR SHAW, OF SWAMPSOOTT, MASSACHUSETTS.

LASSO.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 474,103, dated May 3, 1892.

Application filed December 26, 1891. Serial No. 416,148. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, EDGAR SHAW, a citizen of the United States, residing at Swampscott, in the county of Essex and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, have invented an Improved Lasso, of which the following is a full specification.

My invention consists of an improved lasso of peculiar construction, which while especially intended for a toy is at the same time applicable for many of the practical uses for which such an implement is employed, such as catching animals, &c.

The ordinary lasso, being made of rawhide, is quite stiff, so that when thrown the loop or noose will naturally remain open. It is, however, very heavy. Alasso if made of ordinary light rope throughout is impracticable by reason of the fact that in swinging the loop above the head preparatory to' throwing it the said loop will not remain spread apart, but will close together, or perhaps kink or twist, so that when thrown it will not embrace the object aimed at.

The object of my invention is to produce a practicable lasso of light weight, and this I accomplish by making the loop portion of the lasso of rope reinforced by metal wire or stiff fiber preferably twisted about the outside of said rope between the strands thereof, this reinforced or loop portion being swiveled to a smaller or more flexible rope or cord, which constitutes that part of the lasso which is gathered up and held in the hand while the loop is being swung.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 shows a lasso embodying my invention, and Fig. 2 is an enlarged View of one of the swivels and of portions of the lasso adjacent thereto.

A is the loop or noose portion of the lasso, which is made of rope reinforced or stiffened by means of a wire or stiff fiber a, which, as herein shown, is wound spirally around the rope on the outside thereof between the strands. While I prefer to reinforce the rope in this manner I may use instead, if desired, a

rope reinforced by a stiff fiber passing through the center thereof. In any case the rope A is not made so stiff but. that the noose may be readily drawn up, while at the same time it is sufficiently stiff to cause the loop portion to remain openwhen being swung and thrown.

B is the gathering-rope, made of ordinary rope or cord preferably smaller than the rope A and swiveled thereto at O. p

O is a strap, preferably of leather, within which the knotted ends a b of the ropes A and B, respectively, are held, so as to allow free axial motion of one rope with respect to the other. The other end of the rope A is knotted at a in the swivel-strap D, which runs loosely over the rope A, thus forming the noose. The reinforcing of the rope A by the metal wire or fiber serves not only to stiffen the loop, but also to make it heavier, so as to balance while swinging and throwing.

I claim- In a lasso, the combination, with a flexible gathering-rope B, of a loop-forming rope A, provided with the spirally-wound reinforcing wire or fiber a, a connecting-swivel O, and a noose-forming swivel D, all arranged and operating substantially as described.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

' EDGAR SHAW.

Witnesses:

W. B. H. Dowsn, ALBERr-E. LEACH. 

